Chapter Twenty-Three Opening

  After receiving the order, the entire garrison became busy. Rommel's 1st Panzer Regiment was already prepared as the vanguard, with one hundred and ninety-four tanks forming a column in three rows.

  Xu Yang concentrated the two Type 1 tank battalions of the Armored Division on Rommel's First Armored Regiment, and it was proven that concentrating tanks together to utilize firepower advantages could be more beneficial. With a large number of tanks charging forward, not only could they give enemy soldiers a strong sense of oppression, but also effectively and quickly break through the enemy's established infantry trenches, unless specialized anti-tank trenches were set up to slow down the tank's mobility, otherwise the tank's charging power would be unstoppable.

  Just as Xu Yang was about to order the tank troops to set off, a Volkswagen convertible suddenly appeared at the gate of the military camp. From a distance, a middle-aged man wearing an SS uniform could be seen getting out of the car and negotiating with the sentry.

  The soldier on sentry duty ran over and saluted: "Sir! That man is holding the Prime Minister's warrant and says he wants to see you."

  Xu Yang walked towards the gate with an expressionless face, Joseph closely followed behind him. As they approached, he saw that the man was Leon Forster, a Sturmbannführer of the SS.

  Foster bowed respectfully and raised his hand in a salute, "Colonel Stadk, by order of the Führer..."

  Xu Yang and Joseph's expressions turned serious, their legs closed together, heads raised and chests out, standing in the military posture of a national defense army soldier listening to orders.

  "By order of the Führer!" Foster raised his hand to a place where Xu Yang could see it, "The order for the 3rd Armored Division to head to Sudeten is cancelled, and strict orders are given to stay in Berlin and await further instructions! Major General Karn von Stack will immediately take a special plane to Munich, the Führer wants to see you!"

  Xu Yang took the order and looked at it in detail. It was Hitler's handwritten order, which particularly emphasized the need to rush to Munich within one day. What specifically happened was not mentioned. Xu Yang understood that he could not know anything from F?rster, so he directly bypassed the formalities of the OKW and expressed his acceptance of the order. Then he asked: "Is there a limit on the number of people who can accompany the Führer?"

  "Thank you! I appreciate it!" Foster let out a visible sigh of relief, thinking he would have to put in a lot of effort. The 3rd Armored Division belonged to the national defense system, and if Xu Yang refused without the Supreme Commander's order, he wouldn't be able to do anything about it. He said with pleasure: "The Führer doesn't limit the number of people you can bring along, however... You know that the plane can only seat six people, and Herr Himmler will be accompanying you with his two deputies, so you can only bring two people."

  Xu Yang exchanged a glance with Joseph, letting Foster wait here for a moment, and turned to walk towards Rommel.

  Long Mei'er was waiting for orders at this time and saw Xu Yang coming over. He stood on the tank turret and saluted.

  Xu Yang replied, "The order to proceed to Sudetenland has been cancelled by the Fuehrer. The Fuehrer ordered the 3rd Panzer Division to stay in its garrison. I have been ordered to go to Munich to meet with the Fuehrer. My orders are: Rundstedt is in charge of the operations of the 3rd Panzer Division, you are to assist him on the side."

  Long Mei'er was taken aback for a moment, then saluted again: "Yes!"

  Xu Yang instructed: "Don't idle around during this period."

  Romell ordered the entire team to cease fire, his disappointed expression was evident on his face. He hung his head in despair, "General, training exercises will not be stopped." He had originally thought he could make a big splash on the Czechoslovak stage.

  Xu Yang wanted to say something, but Foster's voice came from the other side, asking if he was ready, sounding a bit urgent. This made Xu Yang's eyebrows furrowed, gesturing to Joseph to help him pack up the necessary daily necessities, his eyes fixed on Rommel, saying: "Erwin, trust me, this stage of Czechoslovakia is too small for us. Get ready, a bigger stage is waiting for us!"

  Xu Yang didn't say anything more, he was very clear that in today's international atmosphere; Czechoslovakia would not ignite the flames of war, its consciousness would be stripped by Britain and France, and it would be smoothly incorporated into Germany. As a price, Britain and France would see Germany's ambition, raise their vigilance and prepare for war.

  This move cannot be clearly distinguished as right or wrong. If it is said that Austria was the first testing ground for German diplomacy, it can only be said that Germany succeeded in its appeasement policy towards Britain and France. This time, however, Germany used ethnic contradictions to gain control over the Sudetenland, a region in Czechoslovakia, which made Britain and France feel uneasy. They are still watching, but if Germany takes another step forward, it will thoroughly sound the alarm for Britain and France.

  After the annexation of Sudetenland, the German and Hungarian governments had a common goal, which was to further oppress Czechoslovakia. Hungary claimed sovereignty over Czechoslovak territory and wanted Pre?ov, Ko?ice, Banská Bystrica, Bratislava and ?ilina from Czechoslovakia, while Germany wanted to fully possess the Czech part of the country. The two countries with the same demands were trying to get together. When the two countries unite, it is also when Czechoslovakia disappears from the historical stage.

  Xu Yang arrived at the Prime Minister's residence in a Volkswagen convertible with Joseph, where they were greeted by Himmler and Helena. The two were dressed very formally, as if they were attending a ball, and their enthusiastic demeanor contrasted sharply with Xu Yang and Joseph's bewildered expressions.

  Helena is a very beautiful noblewoman, the long years seem to have taken nothing away from her youth, that kind of mature feminine beauty makes her look even more elegant and luxurious, giving people a feeling of a very soft and noble temperament.

  Xu Yang affectionately kissed Helena's hand, "Respected lady, your attire is impeccable."

  Helena is now a mother of two children. Her voice remains soft and gentle, "We will go to Vienna with Yuan Shou."

  Xu Yang finally knew the reason why Hitler summoned him to Munich. He thought: Hitler wanted to tell the world that the poor boy who once slept on the streets of Vienna had now become the leader of the Third German Empire. Was it a manifestation of self-esteem?

  Himmler is now vying for power with G?ring, and has been trying to win over the Junkers' representative, Schacht, but so far without success. He was wearing the black uniform of an SS Obergruppenführer, which differed little from that worn by a Panzer general in the Army except for the swastika badge on his chest and the swastika armband on his right arm.

  He greeted Xu Yang with the same enthusiasm as always, "Dear Karn, we will meet the Führer in Munich, do you know? It's an honor, the Führer has only summoned us and no one else, and we have the privilege of accompanying the Führer on a special train to Vienna, the city known as the capital of music."

  Xu Yang was different this time, he smiled and nodded, "Yes, I knew it after you said it. I'm telling you, Himmler, don't you really consider choosing another uniform for the SS Reich Flag Guard?"

  Himmler's smile froze, he didn't dare to joke with the Führer's flag guard uniform like Xu Yang did. "Hmm? Perhaps you should communicate with the Führer in person?"

  "Knock knock knock" Three knocks on the door, a young lady pushed open the door and walked in, "Ladies and gentlemen, your car has arrived."

  All the way, Xu Yang seemed to get along very well with Himmler, chatting and laughing. He tried his best to gather intelligence from Himmler. When he learned that they would be taking a special train from Munich to Ansfelden in Austria, Xu Yang thought for a long time but couldn't figure out where Ansfelden was.

  "Ansfelden? That is a very beautiful place?"

  Himmler replied, "Ah, Ansfelden? That's where the Fuehrer spent his youth traveling (actually wandering)."

  Xu Yang was silent, Hitler indeed had a strong sense of self-respect, he returned to the place where he used to be down and out, with the intention of finding past memories, but also to show off. Although Hitler always emphasized that he knew what people wanted because he was down and out, in fact, he was very concerned about his past.

  When Xu Yang arrived at the airport and boarded the plane, he was stunned. He saw Gorin in the cockpit and asked him why he was there. Gorin's response was: He was the pilot of this plane.

  "The flying hero of the Empire, Hermann G?ring, will take you to Munich. Of course, I'll also be getting off there. You should feel proud!"

  Himmler sneered, "An ambitious role, he just wants to share the Fuehrer's glory."

  Xu Yang's first reaction was: Can't we change drivers? Can he fit in the driver's seat?

  Everyone looked at Gollum's big belly and expressed suspicion...